PANAJI
The National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication on Sunday hailed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) decision to direct the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to set guidelines within 3 months for cigarette and bidi waste disposal.
Dr Shekhar Salkar said in a statement that it was a pathbreaking decision and augurs well for the environment.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Secretary of the anti-tobacco organisation, Goa-based oncologist Shekhar Salkar said that the step taken by the NGT was “pathbreaking” and in sync with healthy and sustainable environment practices.
Salkar said apart from the tobacco intake through cigarettes and bidis affecting health of millions globally, the cigarette and bidi butts thrown away were also polluting forests and water-bodies.
The NGT direction to the CPCB came following the latter’s report related to pollution caused by unscientific disposal of cigarette and bidi butts.
The CPCB has been asked to set the guidelines within three months for their scientific disposal.
Cigarette and bidi butts which include the filters comprise of non-biodegradable material used to filter the toxins before cigarette smoke is inhaled by the smoker.
Salkar also said, that the government should impose a cess on tobacco companies on this count so expenditure for scientific disposal of harzadous butts is defrayed.
